Everyone has experienced disappointments in this life. Sometimes they are small and easy to get over. Other times, they are severe and can completely debilitate you if you let them.

In the Bible, Adam and Eve went through a great disappointment. Their son, Cain, killed their son, Abel. You can imagine how devastated and distraught they must have been. But they said in Genesis 4:25, “God has appointed another seed unto us.” They were saying in effect, “We might be knocked down. We feel like we’ve been wiped out. But we’re not going to stay down because we know God has another option.” And in your difficult times, when you don’t feel like it could get any worse, God is saying to you, “Take heart; I’m going to appoint another seed. I’m going to do a new thing.” For everything you’ve lost, everything that’s been stolen, everything that’s been taken away, know this: God has another plan. He has another seed for you.

I believe the reason God uses the word “seed” is because it talks about the future. It talks about what’s coming. If you can just do your part to let go of the old and start pressing forward, you will give birth to more in the future than you’ve lost in the past.

I see so many people who have a tough time letting go of what lies behind. They’re always focused on who hurt them, how unfair it was, or wondering why this happened. The whole time, their gifts, talents and dreams are being pressed down. All of their potential is lying dormant on the inside underneath the weight of bitterness and regret.

This is what almost happened to my father. My dad was married at a very early age in life. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Of course, we’re not in favor of divorce. I don’t believe that’s God’s best. But you know as well as I do, sometimes it happens. You can’t unscramble eggs, and you can’t undo the past. You’ve got to let it go and move on. But my father was so devastated and felt like his days of ministry were over. He didn’t think he’d ever have a family again. He basically thought that he had ruined his entire life. One day, he did what I’m asking you to do. Instead of staying focused on all his mistakes and dwelling on all his failures, he decided to forgive himself and let it all go. He told me the hardest thing to do was to receive God’s mercy. See, the enemy would love to sit on your shoulder and remind you of every mistake you’ve ever made. But the Bible says that when we confess our sins, not only does God forgive us, but He chooses not to remember our mistakes anymore. So, if somebody keeps bringing up your past, you need to know it’s not God. If God is willing to let it all go, why don’t you?

That’s what my father did. One day, he got up, dusted himself off and said, “Yes, I’ve made some poor choices, but I know God has another seed for my future. He has another plan.” Not long after that, he met my mother. Over the years, they had five children and ministered all over the world.

Today, I wonder how many people are sitting around wallowing in their mistakes and feeling guilty, condemned and frustrated; feeling like they’re washed up in life. In the meantime, their gifts, talents and dreams are being wasted. Please, don’t let that be you! If you’ve made mistakes, know this: God is the God of a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance—as many chances as you need! I’m not saying to take the easy way out and bale out of a marriage. No, you stick with it and make it work. But if you’re already past that, if it’s already over and done, don’t you dare sit around thinking that life is over and you’re never going to be happy. No, God has another seed. He wants to give you that new beginning. Your best days are not behind you, they are in front of you. Quit looking back. Quit living depressed. Receive God’s mercy and start pressing forward into the victory He has prepared for you!